Help support our friends in Israel in their time of need.
HESED Service Tour
February 17 - March 6, 2016
Led by Bruce Scott
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Trip Blog Posts
Joyful yet poignant
posted on Sunday March 06 2016 at 12:29 am UTC
Hesed 2016 is officially in the books. Seventeen days in Israel, plus two travel days, added up to a spiritually refreshing, albeit physically exhausting, life-changing adventure of serving, fellowshipping, and seeing a variety of biblically significant sites. On this last day, our team had one more...
The Joy of Jerusalem
posted on Saturday March 05 2016 at 1:09 am UTC
The long awaited day had arrived. We were going up to Jerusalem! We set out from our hotel around 7:30 AM with our guide and bus driver. We began with beautiful views of the Mount of Olives, photos of our group and some scripture reading. Next, we headed on to the Ophel Archaeological Park where,...
Saying Goodbye
posted on Friday March 04 2016 at 1:01 am UTC
I can’t believe our ten days at Kaplan have come to an end. This was my second year serving with Hesed and working in the kitchen/dining room. Renewing friendships with Israelis I had met last year, as well as forging new friendships this year, has been especially meaningful. Working side by side with...
Warm memories and new friendships
posted on Thursday March 03 2016 at 12:54 am UTC
It has been a wonderful experience becoming acquainted with our team members who hail from fifteen US states. I appreciate our drivers, Bruce, Charles and Nathan for their excellent transportation to and from Kaplan Medical Center and our evening events, much of the time in some crazy traffic. Life...
A celebration of freedom from sin
posted on Wednesday March 02 2016 at 12:57 am UTC
Today was the eighth day at Kaplan Medical Center with the Hesed project, and the Lord was boldly evident as we continued to be His salt and light. I've been working in the dining room with my teammate, Tina. The activity in the dining room is on-going, including feeding the medical center staff breakfast,...
In The Service
posted on Tuesday March 01 2016 at 12:44 am UTC
My day began pretty much like every other day. I meet with Ram (pronounced Rahm) about 8:00 AM and throughout the morning. Using a three-wheeler electric cart, we moved and towed large stainless containers from the basement to the different clinics in the hospital. The containers going up had clean sterilized...
You never know who is watching or listening
posted on Monday February 29 2016 at 12:54 am UTC
The other day it occurred to me that I need to be open, aware, and prepared each day. I never know who the Lord will have me encounter. As I worked in the ER I became aware that I was being watched by the staff, but even more so by the patients and their families. How I did my work, my countenance,...
The Lord is the strength of his people
posted on Sunday February 28 2016 at 12:41 am UTC
We awakened to a sunny, crisp morning as we prepared for our one-half hour trek to the kehilah (congregation) in Rehovot. We were greeted ever so warmly as we entered. The congregation is a diverse one. In addition to Israelis, there are Russians, and students from Uganda, Kenya, and Russia who are studying...
Let your light shine before others
posted on Saturday February 27 2016 at 12:50 am UTC
Friday at sundown was the beginning of our second Shabbat here in Israel, and traditionally all work ceases. The next 24 hours are spent enjoying family and worship. Last Friday our large Hesed group split into small groups and attended Shabbat evening meals at homes of Messianic believers from a...
Give your life for another
posted on Thursday February 25 2016 at 11:49 pm UTC
What a memorable day. So far this week we have gone from being invisible in our work department, to being accepted, and then today, fully embraced. Our Israeli department members have actually asked us to slow down enough so that we will have enough work in their department and be able to stay for the...
An extended hand
posted on Thursday February 25 2016 at 1:11 am UTC
Today was our 4th day of our volunteering at Kaplan. I got to rejoin my partner, Deb, in the ER. Yesterday was a solo day for me there, as she was with someone else. Have to say I enjoy the company of my friend as we compliment each other very nicely. I certainly hope she feels that way, as well. We...
Helping to make a difference
posted on Wednesday February 24 2016 at 1:02 am UTC
It's our third day of work here at Kaplan Medical Center and our team is settling into a comfortable routine. We're starting to build relationships with each other and those we work with. I'm working in the warehouse, where I worked last year. I'm shrink wrapping material on pallets, and covering larger...
Yeshua, I will love You in the storm
posted on Monday February 22 2016 at 11:34 pm UTC
Last evening when we left dinner for our cabins, the rains that had started earlier really picked up. Even though each of us on the Hesed Project trip were hoping for good weather, this was much needed for the nation of Israel and we needed to give thanks for the Lord providing this gift. It wasn't...
Our first day working at Kaplan Medical Center
posted on Monday February 22 2016 at 1:13 am UTC
Today was our first day working at Kaplan Medical Center located in Rehovot, Israel, with sixty-five beautiful acres of buildings going as far back as the early 1950s, to current renovations underway, as well as architectural plans and renderings of the new cardiac building slated for opening in 2017. At...
Let your light shine
posted on Sunday February 21 2016 at 1:21 am UTC
As I woke this morning God had me sit on the balcony of my room. He had me watch the moon with all its splendor. It dawned on me that such a bright, beautiful light shines in the midst of such darkness. Its captivating beauty, its appearance of stillness intriguing. Its shimmer of gold representing its...
Understanding the reason
posted on Saturday February 20 2016 at 1:48 am UTC
Friday, February 19, 2016 Yad Hashmona Country Hotel 9 am - We were invited to participate in and partake of a wonderfully prepared and scrumptious tasting brunch. 2 pm - A tour of the Biblical Gardens at our hotel. I enjoyed the first part of the tour. My participation in the tour ended when a...
Vigor and enthusiasm
posted on Friday February 19 2016 at 1:05 am UTC
Our Hesed 2016 team of 24 volunteers are now all together and settled into our Israeli hotel. The day began with everyone meeting at JFK airport in New York. There we enjoyed being sent on our journey once again by the National Director of American Friends of the Kaplan Medical Center ( The day continued...
Preparing for Israel
posted on Tuesday February 02 2016 at 9:41 pm UTC
We're finishing up our final preparations for this year's Hesed Project Israel service trip. Once we're on the ground in Israel, we'll post periodic updates and photos. Check back often or get update notifications using the subscribe options on this page. We'll be sharing our experiences online...